Preacher Shoes

When I went into the ministry over 30 years ago, my father-in-law called and said for me to meet him at the Mccollum-Ferrell Shoe Store in South Boston, VA. When I arrived, he instructed me to try on a pair of black Florsheim Wing Tips. He informed me that every preacher had to have a pair of these shoes. It was evidently part of the "uniform" if I was entering the ministry! They were great shoes - practically indestructible. But I did discover a major problem.


I had to make a hospital call a few days later and so I dressed up in the appropriate "preacher attire" for back then, including my new "preacher shoes." As I went to enter the hospital, all decked out and looking very professional I might add, I suddenly discovered a danger of shoes with solid leather bottoms. They are very slick when they meet the right surface, such as a marble hospital floor. The real issue at that point was incompatibility - I had one foot on the non-slip mat and the other on the very "will slip" floor. The result of this “unequal yoking” was the one and only full split of my entire life! I am not sure which was greater – the physical pain or the pain of embarrassment.

I managed to right myself and made my way very carefully through the hospital to visit my patient. If you have ever witnessed someone just learning to ice skate and can picture their shuffling little steps, you have the picture of my journey down the halls. This gait was necessary both due to the shoes and to the fact that I had strained muscles I didn’t even know existed. My next stop after the hospital was the shoe repair store, where I had him put rubber heels on my brand new shoes!

I still have those shoes today and occasionally wear them when I am preaching. The only thing marring them today after 30 years is a scar made by a barbed wire fence 25 years ago when I stopped to help at a car wreck scene. Other than that, they look almost exactly like they did the day I bought them (except for the addition of some rubber heels).

They have stood the test of time, serving me well in the pulpit and, after a little bit of a learning curve, on the street as well. I have been through a number of suits, several cars, even worn out a Bible or two. But my “preacher shoes” have made it through. What else has survived those 30+ years?

§ My marriage to the most amazing woman in the entire world.

§ My relationship with my son with whom I would say I am closer now than ever before.

§ My love for and dependence on Jesus!

§ My desire to see others know Him and His marvelous gift of salvation.

§ My passion to proclaim His Word wherever He gives me opportunity!

§ The hope that is ours in Christ Jesus:

if indeed you remain grounded and steadfast in the faith, and are not shifted away from the hope of the gospel that you heard. (Col 1:23)

Thoughts from my front yard

This past Wednesday, we experienced a huge storm that came through the area. In fact, many of you were with me here at church when it hit. The next morning I was walking to the paper box and along the way I was picking up small branches and debris that had been blown across the driveway. I had an impressive little armload when I turned and looked back toward the house. Suddenly I felt quite foolish when I realized I had focused on these few small twigs when I had an entire tree fallen in my side yard!

That is like so many of us today. We are so focused on the little things, dare I say, the insignificant things that we miss what has fallen around us. I am worried about how I will look or how I will be perceived in a particular situation. Will I look stupid? Will I sound stupid? What will people think of me? I have my focus on the “twigs” of my life.

We look at others and we are critical of their dress, their hairstyles, their music, or their (you fill in the blank here). We want people to look like us, talk like us, be like us! We are so caught up in differences (“twigs”) that we miss out on the more important things.

At church, we can be focused on the “twigs” as well. The music is too loud, or not loud enough. It’s too contemporary or too old fashioned. The temperature is too hot, or too cold. The preacher is too loud, or he doesn’t speak up. The greeter didn’t smile at me, or she was way too friendly.

I am so thankful to be a part of this church and to be around people who see the big picture. However, let us never forget that it is easy to get focused on the little things and the wrong things. Remember, it is not about me (or you), but always about Him! Remember also, that we live in a world filled with people who have fallen (just like us). Let us never battle over worship styles, hair styles, or clothing styles when there is a world that has fallen and only Jesus can pick them up. Let’s never worry about how we will look and instead let’s always show others how the Savior looks!

The Work of God

Then they said to him, "What must we do, to be doing the works of God?" Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent." (John 6:28-29)

What is it that shows we are doing the work of God? Is it being at church every week or better yet, every day? Is it preaching, teaching, witnessing? It is really much simplier and yet at the same time much more difficult than any of these things! Jesus says it here: "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent."

Notice first the difference in the question and the answer. The question asks about "the works of God", but the answer talks about "the work of God". They are asking the same question that many still ask today: What is the list of things that I have to do to make things right with God?

Jesus says it is not about a set of rules, but it is all about faith - about believing. Out of our belief then comes everything else! As always, our relationship with Him is the good portion!